WOODLAND, CA--- The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation has granted membership to the University of California, Riverside in men’s and women’s indoor track and field for the 2016-17 academic year. The Highlanders will compete in the 25th edition of the MPSF Championship Meet, held at the University of Washington’s Dempsey Indoor Facility for the 14th consecutive year. The two-day championship event is scheduled for February 24 & 25, 2017. UC Riverside becomes the 39th institution which currently competes in the MPSF across 10 sports. The Highlanders also give the MPSF its 20th women’s track and field program, along with its 15th on the men’s side.

“We are excited to have UC Riverside compete at the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships,” said MPSF Executive Director Al Beaird. “As the eighth Big West institution to participate along with all the Pac-12 and several West Coast Conference teams, this truly is the preeminent championship event on the West Coast.”

Located in Riverside, California, UC Riverside’s NCAA Division I Intercollegiate Athletic teams compete in the Big West as its primary conference. Nate Browne was named director of Cross Country and Track & Field for the Highlanders in January of 2016, following four months as the program's interim director. “I am excited about our student-athletes getting the opportunity to compete for individual and team championships at the end of the indoor season,” said Browne. “This gives us a competitive bridge to the outdoor season, and is great exposure for the program as we compete against the likes of Oregon, USC, UCLA and BYU. It will also serve as a natural ‘last chance’ meet prior to NCAA Indoor Nationals for our top-end athletes.”

MPSF Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field teams have combined to capture a total of 15 NCAA Championships since the inaugural year of the conference in 1992-93, including the last three years on the men’s side and eight of the last 10 for the women. The MPSF has collected an all-sports total of 85 national championships through its first 24 seasons.